I owe my success and wealth to God’s mercy and endless blessings. I believe it is important to be in His word each and everyday. To encourage others to read the Bile I will be posting daily verses along with excerpts. Join me in the study of the Bible.
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Colossians 2:1-11 KJV
1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
The video below covers the verses above. I enjoy watching pastor Arnold despite the age of the video. He always reads the Bible verse by verse and provides a deeper understanding of the Bible.
This prompt reminded me of a previous letter I wrote and published.
The echoes of my inner child reverberate through my soul. Her story is etched into my bones. Tucked away and out of sight but proof of distant days. A memory long since forgotten, yet fragments of essence remain. Tiny pieces of who I once was entwined into what I am today. I close my eyes and there she stands just before me. Mentally I take note of her features and write her a letter, It reads:
Dear little girl that whispers in my head, I have never seen snow white hair and big blue eyes quite like yours. It appears to be the whitest of whites and bluest of blues. Your tiny ears and button nose are mirrored on our daughters. It is funny how I can see pieces of you in their reflection. Your big bright smile that demands attention and spreads infectiously. Your deformed toes that most would never know are not quite perfect. You carry around a heart so big it could contain the whole universe. A heart so pure that always has good intentions.
I love your innocence that you feel is stolen. I love your caring and nurturing nature, always happy to help and eager to please. I admire how you plan ahead and are always preparing. I adore the way you are so empathetic and put everyone’s needs ahead of your own. I have great regard for your unwillingness to give up and seeing the best in people first. That is an attribute that seems lacking in others today.
I cherish your tendency to use people’s favorite color as a way to honor them, our daughter does the same thing. I adore your imagination and how it takes you to new places. I love that you can get lost in a book and transport yourself into a story. Books always make better friends anyhow. They are always close and willing to listen, They never complain or judge harshly.
My favorite thing about you is that you enjoy writing. Such a simple pleasure but one that is conveniently enjoyed. It is by far the easiest and most doable hobby as a mother. I would be lost without it. Although it does seem meaningless at times. Nothing more than something to pass the time, like watching a movie or enjoying a sunset. On the other hand what would life be if we didn’t take time to enjoy little moments like these? Dull and boring I suppose.
This letter is a forever reminder you are a sweet, lovable and a good little girl. Never see yourself as inferior because you are more than enough, even if you don’t feel like it. I love you just the way you are and are so proud of you. Every day remember who comes first. Never quit dreaming and believing in yourself, everything else will fall into place.
Every person has one, no matter their social status. Some will say a certain animal or heights or maybe the dark. Others will insist they don’t have one, unable to admit it even to themselves. Me, I have many fears, but only one that rattles my soul when I think about it. I am terrified of failing as a mother.
I have three children, therefore I have three little humans counting on me to do my job correctly. Failing as a mother could lead to countless negative consequences all throughout their lives. Every choice I make, in every single moment, has an impact on their future and future generations. How do I know when enough is enough?
I homeschool my children. I have been exploring homeopathic medicines. I strive to prepare well rounded meals. I try to live a healthy and natural lifestyle. Despite all these efforts, at the end of the day I replay the events in my mind. I should have done this, I could have done that. My overactive imagination critiques every decision made. I should have spent more time explaining something. I should have taken the time to read another story. I should have put more limits on screen time. The never ending list puts on a show before me highlighting my shortcomings.
I fight these thoughts of inadequacy knowing that I am harder on myself than I should be. I know that each and everyday I pour my heart into my children, striving to be and do the best I can. Some days I fall short and others I miss the mark by a mile. But most importantly every day I am there, showing up and being a parent. I don’t know what the future will bring but I know one thing for certain. My kids will always be my greatest accomplishments.
To all the parents who show up each and everyday without fail, you are doing a great job. Raising children is rough and by far the most challenging and complex job in the world. Don’t take it lightly, our actions today shape habits for tomorrow.
Ariana shivers at the unusual sight before her. She backs out of the room, hoping the one she is looking for lies behind the next door. Her trembling hands make it impossible to lock the door. She fumbles with the key until the smooth metal finish slips between her fingers. She tries desperately to catch it before it contacts the wood floor. As a last ditch effort, she shifts her foot forward, intending for it to land on her shoe. Instead, her noble efforts result in her kicking the key. Bang, bang, bang. The sound of the key is like explosions in the silent house.
To Read more, follow the link to the Amazon ebook.
In the modern world today, several different versions of the Bible are now in print. Every department store has several copies promoting a better and easier to understand literature of the outdated Bible. While all that seems exciting and helpful, it is also very concerning. Before I get into the nitty gritty of the details, let me state that I am well aware of the stigma behind the King James Version Bible. I know that many believe that mankind has touched it in irreptible ways and Christianity is just a way to manipulate and control the masses. I obviously disagree with such nonsense and believe the KJV Bible is the most accurate English interpretation of the Bible. In fact the KJV is so mathematically perfect, it would be impossible for any man to complete the complex structure in such a way. I will provide a link to a more detailed account of the above mentioned mathematics. Hopefully one day I can do an article representing this as well.
Let’s begin with the earliest form of the Bible. In the initial years the Bible was written by all walks of life but all inspired directly by God himself (II Timothy 3:16). Many men, across hundreds of years, some of which unbeknownst to the other wrote the Bible. Some Bibles were written by kings, fishermen and preachers. In fact, it was once mandatory for the new king to produce his own handwritten copy of the Bible. Ensuring each new reign had read the word of God and was fully capable of making sound and moral judgments based on scripture. All this was completed before the idea of the printing press had come to light and most was copied onto scrolls and later paper, primarily papaya.
The Vulgate was the first translation into French by a man named Jerome in the late 4th century. This version was later used by the Roman church. An abundance of religious texts were preserved through the following dark ages by priests and scribes who copied them in various places. As the centuries passed by the clerks and clergy were the only ones to have access to the written context. John Wycliffe had the belief that the sacred text should be available to everyone regardless of their social status. He was the first to translate the Bible into English in 1384.
The great invention of the printing press in 1440 meant that Hebrew, Greek and Latin text were more accessible and readily available. In 1526 William Tyndale completed his translation of the New Testament from the Greek text unlike Wycliffe who used Latin scriptures. Sadly both men died as a direct result of their fervent pursuit. Wycliffe was accused of heretics posthumously and Tyndale viciously burned at the stake.
During the tyrannical reign of Roman Catholic Mary I, English scholars sought refuge in Geneva, Switzerland. Not long after, the Geneva Bible came to light. Heavily influenced by John Calvin and John Knock, the Old Testament was published in 1558 and the New Testament in 1560. The Geneva Bible was the first to be translated from Greek and Hebrew into English. It was also the first Bible to use numbered verses and chapters along with italic words. It provided detailed depictions and commentary notes. It quickly gained public popularity as the common man could now access it as well.
Fast forward a few years and England was under the reign of Henry VIII. England removed itself from the Catholic church and created its very own state church. In 1604 King James I, a then known religious scholar who has previous bits of translations, decided to translate one unified version of the Bible. He published his version in 1611 after appointing the nation’s finest language scholars and creating a system to verify accuracy. His work was heavily influenced by the Geneva Bible but frowned upon the commentary aspects deeming it “seditious”. Then in 1684 the Roman Catholic Church decided to remove certain texts claiming it celebrated Judaism. Naturally there were other Bibles produced during the dates mentioned but I stuck with the most popular versions.
Now that we are finished with the history lesson let’s get back to the topic at hand. Modern day translations not only completely remove words but entire versus, drastically changing the intended message. Below is an example of 16 times entire verses were removed, they are as follows.
Matthew 17:21: “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 18:11: “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.” Matthew 23:14: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.” Mark 7:16: “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.” Mark 9:44: “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” Mark 9:46: “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” Mark 11:26: “But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Mark 15:28: “And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.” Luke 17:36: “Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.” John 5:4: “For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.” Acts 8:37: “And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Acts 15:34: “Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.” Acts 24:7: “But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,” Acts 28:29: “And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.” Romans 16:24: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” I John 5:7: “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”
Furthermore, When we compare key scripture such as Ezekiel 13:20-23 we see noticeable differences.
Ezekiel 13:20-23, King James Version. 20 Wherefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly.
21 Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:
23 Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the Lord
Ezekiel 13:20-23, New International Version. 20 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against your magic charms with which you ensnare people like birds and I will tear them from your arms; I will set free the people that you ensnare like birds. 21 I will tear off your veils and save my people from your hands, and they will no longer fall prey to your power. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 22 Because you disheartened the righteous with your lies, when I had brought them no grief, and because you encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so save their lives, 23 therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will save my people from your hands. And then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
Joshua 1:8, King James Version. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Joshua 1:8, New Living Translation. 8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
Proverbs 18:21, King James Version. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Proverbs 18:21, New Living Translation. 21 The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
The comparisons above show the stark difference between the pictures that the scripture conveys. The newer versions are not just inaccurate but also misleading. I understand the aspects of better readability and easier comprehension but at what cost? I find it very troubling that younger generations are gravitating toward newer translations. All the while oblivious to the discrepancies and confusion it can bring.
I believe a true Christian should avoid these translations all together. If comprehension of the old language style in King James Version is too difficult, pray about it and ask for clarification. Personally I use a Companion Bible KJV along with a Strong Concordance and a Smith’s Bible Dictionary. With these three resources I not only have the Apocrypha containing the books removed in 1648 but it also provides me with the ability to take any and every word back to the original languages and translate it myself. In doing so I can verify any and every text I read whether KJV or not. The companion Bible divides the scriptures so you can easily follow the subject and article. It provides a vast amount of appendices to further dive into the entirety of God’s Word. Doing so provides me with a deep and complex understanding of the Bible.
Our heavenly Father doesn’t want people to just show up for church on Sunday and fill the pews. He doesn’t want lukewarm Christians. He wants you every day, to be in His word. Christians are not supposed to listen to a preacher talk about one versus for an hour. We should be studying versus by versus, chapter by chapter to show ourselves approved. When was the last time you picked up your Bible and read it? When was the last time you did a deep dive into the true meaning of God’s word or have you ever desired to? Do you truly study the word of God or do you allow yourself to be spoon-fed a few versus on Sunday?
I consider myself extremely blessed to be born and raised in America. I do not have to tuck my Bible away and hide it from prying eyes. I do not have to pray in private or hold church in secret. I am free to worship and follow whoever I choose. Yet, so many people take for granted the living word of God at our fingertips. Scriptures that people would have once been beheaded for reading much less possessing and sadly still are today in many parts of the world. I hope everyday I remember what a blessing it is to openly study His word with ample amounts of resources at my disposal. I urge each read also to take the time and faithfully study the word of God.
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
I came to you with my story. You held me in all your glory. You told me not to worry. All my sins would wash away. God you are my redeemer. My great and powerful teacher. You are God of creations and always so gracious.
You spoke life into my soul and love into my heart. I used to think of myself as not worthy. Too many sins just to forgive them. Might as well go on and worry about it another day
Then, I came to you with my story. You held me in all your glory. You told me not to worry. All my sins would wash away. God you are my redeemer. My great and powerful teacher. You are God of creations and always so gracious.
I have watched mountains fall before my feet. My enemies stumble before me. I have witnessed miracles happen before my eyes. Each time I recognize your glory. I will forever adore thee.
Because I came to you with my story. You held me in all your glory. You told me not to worry. All my sins would wash away. God you are my redeemer. My great and powerful teacher. You are God of creations and always so gracious.
My soul belongs to you Lord. You paid the price just for me. It is written in your story and you are the promise keeper. Oh how blessed I am to be a child of a God like you Lord. A child with uncountable blessings. A father with love never ending.
I came to you with my story. You held me in all your glory. You told me not to worry. All my sins would wash away. God you are my redeemer. My great and powerful teacher. You are God of creations and always so gracious.
